“I am pretty excited to finally commit,” said Taylor. “This is just the beginning, but I am really excited that it’s Clarkson as well because my dad and my grandfather went there.”

This season, Taylor has played every game for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He has been a steady presence on the blue line. Taylor has an assist this year for Dubuque and has played serious minutes in his first season at the USHL level. Recently, with the Fighting Saints dealing with a few defensemen out of the lineup, Taylor has stepped into an even bigger role.

“We are proud of Kaelan,” said head coach Oliver David. “Finding a fit with Clarkson for the 2020-21 season and having a plan to continue his development and be ready for them upon arrival shows his maturity. Clarkson is getting a smart young man and a passionate hockey player.”

Taylor’s commitment to Clarkson will see him join the Golden Knights for the 2020-21 season and not next year. Before playing with Dubuque, Taylor played a year at the NAHL level for the Corpus Christi IceRays. Taylor totaled nine regular season points and two postseason assists in his stint with Corpus Christi.